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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTCCLG.2026.02.04.Meeting.MinutesRegular Meeting — February 4, 2026, 10:05 AM St. Lucie County Administration Building, Room 3 Zoom was Available. MINUTES Council Members Present Bradley Goodbread, Okeechobee County Commission, (Chairman) Dowling Watford, City of Okeechobee (Treasurer) Melisa Jahner, Okeechobee School Board Robert Auwaerter, (Alternate for Brian Foley), Indian River Shores, Ingrid Van Hekken, St. Lucie Village, (Secretary) David Pickett, City of Port St. Lucie James Clasby, St. Lucie County Commission (Vice Chairman) Campbell Rich, City of Stuart Brian Foley, Indian River Shores Kevin Docherty, Town of Ocean Breeze Debbie Hawley, St. Lucie County School Board Terri Baronborg, Indian River School Board Frank Tidikis, Town of Sewalls Point Inocencia Hernandez, City of Fellsmere, via Zoom Council Members Not Present Bob McPartlan, City of Sebastian J. Blake Capps, Martin County Commission John Cotugno, City of Vero Beach Amy Pritchett, Martin County School Board Angelina Perez, Village of Indiantown Laura Moss, Indian River County Arnold Gaines, City of Fort Pierce Others Present Greg Langowski, Aide to Ashley Moody, (via Zoom) Mitch Kloorfain, Career Source Nicole Fogarty, St. Lucie School District Patricia Christensen, TCRLC and FLC Terry Ann Paulo, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council Ken Krasnow, Cushman & Wakefield, Guest Speaker Christine Westenhaver, Aide to James Clasby Jim Cannon, South John's Water Management District Sherry McKorkle, South Florida Water Management District 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Goodbread called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM. Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments — Minutes of the Meeting of March 5, 2025 Page 1 of 3 2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mr. Watford led the invocation and Vice Chairman Goodbread led The Pledge of Allegiance. 3. INTRODUCTIONS Self -introduction by Board members and guests. 4. CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS Vice Chairman Goodbread welcomed everyone. He reported his County Administration is retiring in June. He also reported the Okeechobee Music Fest is March 19-22. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Goodbread called for a motion to accept the Meeting Minutes from January 2026. Mr. Docherty made a motion to approve; Mr. Pickett seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 6. APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. Watford gave the Treasurers report for November and December 2025. asked for a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. A motion was made by Ms. Jahner and seconded by Mr. Pickett. Motion passed unanimously. 7. PROGRAM PRESENTATION — Mr. George Landry, St. Lucie County Administrator did present an update on the Treasure Coast International Airport. He addressed improvements in recent years and upcoming improvements to adjacent properties and to the airport runway. The runway will be extended to 8000 feet. 8. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Ms. Baronborg reported that the Indian River School District insurance rates tripled is cost. Others remarked their costs increased as well. Mr. Dockerty stated that Ocean Breeze is looking for new insurance due to the rising cost through FMIT. Mr. Clasby spoke about the Jetty Beach renourishment work which is ongoing. Mr. Watford announced the Battle of Okeechobee will be held on Feb 28 — March 1. The Speckled Perch Festival is March 14 and 15. The Okeechobee Fair is March 13 to 21. The Florida Cracker Trail will be on February 14. 9. LEGISLATIVE MATTERS The Board discussed legislation being considered by the Florida Legislature. Of concern are bills related to Property Tax Reform, Sovereign Immunity, Accessory Dwelling Units and Local Business Tax. 10. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion of Rescheduling the Joint Okeechobee BBQ — Mr. Watford spoke about changing the date of the Okeechobee BBQto June from July due to the lower turnout in July, due to vacations and several cities scheduling their Summer Workshops. Several dates were considered. The consensus was to move the date to June 3, which is Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments — Minutes of the Meeting of March 5, 2025 Page 2 of 3 a regular meeting date, and have no meeting in July. The Treasure Coast Regional League will be notified to ensure agreement with the date change. 11. PROGRAM PRESENTATION 12. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities/Florida League of Cities (TCRLC & FLC) Ms. Christensen reported that FLC had Legislative Action Days at the end of January. It was well attended by city officials. Ethics Class is being scheduled for late April. A final date will be announced soon. b. Florida Associations of Counties (FAC) Mr. Goodbread reported the Rural City Days was represented by a number of elected officials and business owners. c. Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) Ms. Hawley reported the School Districts had a good turnout in Tallahassee. Ms. Baronborg mentioned the DOE Ruling on co location in existing schools was an issue. d. Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council Terry Ann Paulo reported that on Feb. 20, SFRPC will hold a joint meeting. TCRPC is also doing a Master Plan for the City of Fort Pierce and the Lincoln Park Community. e. CareerSource Research Coast Mr. Kloorfain reported the unemployment rate for Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee was 5% and Indian River County was 6%. He mentioned if any city/county wanted to host a job fair to contact his office. f. South Florida Water Management District Ms. McCorkle mentioned that burn bans were being put in place due to the lack of rain. Okeechobee already had a burn ban in place, as well as Hendry, Highlands and Glades Counties. g. St. Johns Water Management District Mr. Cannon sated they were watching the legislature on the bills that are environmental in nature which impact local Governments. 13. OLD BUSINESS None 14. DISCUSSION OF SCHOLARSHIP FOR TCCLG No Report. The committee is meeting immediately following the Board meeting. 15. ADJOURNMENT As business before the Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments has concluded, Chairman Goodbread adjourned the meeting at 11:45 AM. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Christensen, Secretary. Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments — Minutes of the Meeting of March 5, 2025 Page 3 of 3